Saturday, March 5, 2016

I spent that last two weeks in the company of some amazing
minds and practitioners when it comes to animal training and the science that
guides it. It is a humbling experience. One that I appreciate. It is a good
reminder that no matter how many years of experience one may have, there is
always more to learn. I found myself rethinking the things I thought I knew and
looking for ways to more accurately teach my subject matter. I also thought I
need several more lifetimes to learn everything I want to know about the
different species I work with as well as the science the influences behavior. I
enjoy knowing, there is much more to know.

However, one thing that kept jumping out at me is that this
world of animal training is one that requires the development of certain practical
application skills. I watched incredibly skilled elephant trainers, dog
trainers, and horse trainers practicing their craft. Almost all of them share
some things in common.

1. They are excellent at reading and interpreting animal body
language. Really skilled animal trainers seem to be able to predict what an animal is about to do.
This comes from the ability to observe tiny movements of body parts, whether it
is muscles, eye movements or other subtle actions that are pre-cursers to
bigger actions. Time and experience around a species helps trainers understand
what those signals mean such as fear responses, aggressive behavior, comfort, I’m
ready, etc.

2. They are sensitive to animal body language. Skilled trainers show a
connectivity to their animal. They are aware that their actions influence
animal behavior and are careful to avoid creating fear responses and aggressive
behavior. Their goal is to create an animal that is calm and relaxed in their
presence, one that looks forward to their company.

3. They are incredibly aware of their
own body and how they move. This ties in with number two but is worth a
mention. This self-awareness is really impactful. Knowing that just walking
past an animal or moving an object too quickly can influence behavior in an
adverse way is something skilled trainers know and work to avoid. Why damage
your relationship or disrupt a session if you can avoid it? Skilled animal
trainers also know this is something to be aware of even if you are very far
away from the animal.

4. They have amazing focus and
observation skills. Recently I was engrossed in watching a rhino open his mouth
on cue for his trainer. At the same time another trainer more experienced with
large pachyderms took notice of his hind quarters and a little shift in his
weight while he did the behavior. That slight shift turned out to be an
indication of a bigger problem going on with his joints. These are the kinds of
details people skilled with their species notice.

Later I am sure the pachyderm
trainers experienced the same thing during a parrot training session as I
explained all the subtle things going on in the session that were contributing
to heightened levels of arousal and aggressive behavior for an Amazon parrot

5. They know the natural history
(ethology) of their species and how it will influence their choices when it
comes to training decisions. This
usually translates into setting up the environment so the animal will be successful.
This may mean thinking about antecedent arrangement (making it easy for the
animal to do the action), contextual elements that might help increase comfort
and motivation (like having a buddy around) and reinforcer choices.

Of course there are other things to talk about such as the
timing of delivery of reinforcers, the use of the bridging stimulus, etc. But
these kinds of mechanics are ones that are frequently mentioned and easily
practiced with repetition. I like to think of the skills mentioned above as ones
professionals earn with time and experience working hands on with animals, an
experience that is something book learning or practice with a clicker can never
replace.

While the principles of behavior analysis do apply across species,
there is an art to applying it well throughout the animal kingdom. Most of us
can apply the basics to many species, but it is breathtaking when you see
someone who is clearly an expert with their species applying the technology.
There is a fluid two-way communication without words. I think for many of us we
find it quite emotional when we see that connection, no doubt because training
is so much more than a click and a treat :) a fact not lost on both the trainer and the animal.

Barbara Heidenreich has been a professional animal trainer since 1990. Her company Barbara’s Force Free Animal Training (www.BarbarasFFAT.com)
provides animal training DVDs, books, webinars and workshops. She has
been a featured speaker in over twenty countries and has been published
in nine languages. Barbara works with the companion animal community and
also consults on animal training in zoos.

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About Me

Barbara Heidenreich has been a professional in the field of animal training and behavior since 1990. She travels the world training the earth’s most unusual creatures using science based training technology. Her company Barbara's Force Free Animal Training (www.BarbarasFFAT.com) provides animal training products and services to the companion parrot, rabbit and guinea pig communities. Her products include books, videos, webinars and animal training workshops. She also provides consulting services to zoos, nature centers and other animal facilities. She is a clinical adjunct instructor at Texas A & M University. Barbara is a former president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators and served on the Board of Directors from 1997-2009. In her career she has trained animals, trained staff, lectured and/or presented shows at over 40 facilities around the world. Barbara has made over 200 presentations on animal training in 20 countries. She is famous for her enthusiastic and entertaining presentations, but her true gift is her kind and gentle approach to animal training. Her goal is to leave a legacy of kindness to animals and others by sharing her expertise.